[Virginia] Extract, from the Correspondence between the Department of War of the United States and the Executive of Virginia, on the subject of the Western defence of this Commonwealth. War department Nov. 16. 1791. Sir, Upon a statement of Mr. Moore, Representative from Virginia, in Congress, it appears, that some doubts exist, whether the protection, authorized by the President of the United States, on the 28^th Ultimo, and transmitted to the Governor of Virginia, should be extended to the exposed parts of the Counties of Wythe, Montgomery, and Washington. I am authorized by the President of the United States, to assure your Excellency, that it is his desire, that the defensive protection for the above mentioned Counties, should be as effectual, as the defence of Russell county; and further, to inform your Excellency, that the expence of any measures, which you may think necessary on the occasion, proportioned to the object, and consisting of the militia, and to be supplied with provisions, in the manner as pointed out in my said letter of the 28^th of the last Month, will be paid by the General Government, on the account and vouchers of the services and supplies being produced at this office. I have the honor to be sir, with great respect, your Excellency's most obedient serv^t. H Knox, Sec^y of War. His Excellency, the Governor of Virginia. War department December 5^th 1791. Sir The letter of his Excellency Governor Randolph, dated Council Chamber November 24^th 1791, was received by the last post, and submitted to the President of the United States. And I am directed sir, by the President, to inform you that having confided the defence of the exposed Counties of the southwestern parts of Virginia to the Executive thereof, he feels satisfied that the defence will be proportioned to the object, and that the means to be employed will be such only as he is authorized by the laws to use for the defensive protection of the frontiers. In raising therefore the Company of Militia mentioned in the aforesaid letter of the 24^th of November, the President of the United States requests, that it may be clearly understood, that he conceives the law passed the 30^th of April 1790, authorizes him to call out mere Militia, who shall be entitled to receive the same [underline: pay] and [underline: Subsistence] only, as the troops of the United States, which are specified in the said law. To this may be added, such means of transportation as shall be indispensible; but, he cannot promise either bounties, cloathing, or any other compensation, than the pay and Subsistence before mentioned. I have the honor to be sir, with great respect, your very humble Serv^t. H Knox Sec^y of War. His Excellency Henry Lee Esq^r Governor of Virginia. Council Chamber Sir, Richmond December 12. 1791. My Predecessor transmitted to you in his letter of the 24^th Ultimo, the Act of the Executive providing for the defence of the county of Russell and stated the reasons, which induced a departure from the mode designated in your letter of the 28^th of October. I flatter myself Sir, you will not hesitate to sanction the System adopted as it combines protection with Order and Oeconomy. Since information reached this place announcing the late signal defeat of our Army, various applications have been made to Government for temporary aid from the representatives of those counties which lay exposed to Indian Hostility. We waited for many days in the expectation of being honored with your reply to Governor Randolph's letter of the 24^th as then we should have explicitly known your opinion with respect to that mode of defence which had been established by the Executive and might have accommodated our future measures thereto. Being disappointed in this expectation and longer delay inadmissible, as the General Assembly would soon adjourn, we have adopted our arrangements for the defence of the district of Monongalia and the Counties of Kanawha, Greenbrier, Wythe and Montgomery on the same principles which regulated the Executive in their Act providing for the defence of the County of Russell, with the addition of a patrole to each county, consisting of two men for the purpose of procuring and communicating intelligence. This expensive species of troops, you will discover sir are reduced to a very small number, nor would they have been employed in any degree but from a conviction, on the fullest information, that they are indispensibly requisite. Vain indeed would be military preparations if the means of knowing were inhibited, and really I must consider troops, systematically without those means, who are not allowed the only mode of procuring intelligence in the Country in which they are to act. When you compare the military events of this year with those of the last and the temporary aid now given to that furnished then you will agree, that although our prospects are more gloomy our preparations for defence have not been so expensive and yet we trust will be found equally effective, from the alterations introduced. In so extensive an empire occasions will occur where the Councils and money of the members of the Confederacy in their State capacities will necessarily be used for the accomplishment of objects belonging constitutionally to the General Government. Nor will the happiness & safety of the people, in certain events, permit that delay which must otherwise result, was this convenient instrumentality denied. From the evident necessity of such temporary efforts on the part of this Commonwealth with respect to the defence of our Citizens, whose safety seems to continue precarious notwithstanding the zealous and formidable military exertions of the United States, did the General Assembly, during the last and present Sessions, authorize the Executive to take such measures for the defence of our frontier counties, as in their judgment might be deemed necessary. Under this authority was the money of the Commonwealth expended last year in defensive operations, which terminated in obedience to the directions received from the Secretary of the department of War. The expenses accruing from these measures have been discharged in part by the General Government and some remain yet to be paid. A claim has lately been exhibited from the County of Randolph against the Commonwealth, a copy of which is inclosed wherein the 2^d of May is fixed as the period from which the General Government considers itself as properly chargeable with the disbursements flowing from the System of defence above mentioned. I profess sir, I must consider this distinction resulting from misinformation and hope that the explanation, which I now do myself the honor to make, will conclude this business in a manner just and satisfactory. The Commonwealth of Virginia is certainly, in the first instance, liable for monies stipulated to be paid for the services performed during the last year under the Authority of the Executive previous to the commencement of the operations of the General Government and being the only judge of the justice of such claims propriety demands that they should be presented here for settlement. But at the same time I trust it will not be denied, that the monies thus disbursed being applied in the execution of a duty belonging to the General Government, constitute a proper charge against the United States, in as much as the protection of the people from an enemy to which they were exposed, was the only end of such expenditures, and that protection from the then existing circumstances, could not be afforded in due time, without the interposition of the Legislature of this State. Under these impressions I have directed the proper officer to prepare an account of these expences, which I will do myself the honor to forward to you with the requisite documents, and confidently hope, that you will as soon as convenient, inform me when and in what manner the expected restitution will be made. Permit me to say sir, that the Executive of this Commonwealth take very great pleasure to contribute by any efforts in their power towards the successful execution of the measures of the General Government, and more especially when those measures comprehend the safety of a part of this Community in whose welfare we are so deeply interested. I herewith transmit the act of the Executive of this State, the resolution of the General Assembly, copies of letters from the Lieutenant of the County of Harrison and of my instructions to the Commandants of the troops to be raised for your further information. I have the honor to be &c. Henry Lee To the Secretary for the Department of War. Sir War department 24^th December 1791 I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 12^th instant, together with its enclosures, all of which have been submitted to the President of the United States. The letter of the 24^th of November, written by your Predecessor, was received by the post, on the third and answered on the fifth instant. The President of the United States has directed me, to assure your Excellency, that he considers the United States responsible for the necessary expense to be incurred, at this time, for the defensive protection of the frontiers. — That the arrangement which has been ordered by the Executive of Virginia, by their act of the 12^th instant, appears judicious and as œconomical as the state of the case will admit; and that it will therefore be paid by the General Government, according to the restrictions stated in my letter to your Excellency of the fifth instant. It is however to be observed that the employment of the scouts, were not contemplated, but as they are considered as essentially necessary, and as Congress have, within a few days past, made appropriations for their use on a former occasion, the President of the United States assents fully to their adoption. At the same time it is conceived, that the number for the Ohio County are not sufficient, it having such an extensive frontier. The County Lieutenant therefore, will be permitted to call out a number not exceeding eight for the said county — and if your Excellency should conceive an additional number necessary to any other county, you will please to direct the same and inform me thereof. As Major General St. Clair is empowered on this subject it is presumed he will make an arrangement with Brigadier General Scott for the temporary defensive protection of Kentucky. I take the liberty to request, that your Excellency would be pleased to direct, that the County Lieutenants make monthly returns to this Office of all militia, or Scouts employed at the expence of the United States. When the accounts of the expenses for the defensive protection of the past year, mentioned in your Excellency's letter, shall be received, they will be examined, and the result thereof transmitted to you. The expences for the Scouts of Randolph County, which you enclosed, shall be paid to the order of the Lieutenant of the said county. The President of the United States has directed me to thank your Excellency for your assurances of the ready concurrence of the Executive of Virginia, in the measures of the General Government, taken for the defensive protection of the frontiers. Although this assurance had been wanting he should have entirely relied upon the patriotism of the Executive of which you are the head to support every proper measure for the common good of our Country. I have the honor to be with the greatest respect, your Excellency's most obedient humble Servant, H Knox Sec^y of War. His Excellency The Governor of Virginia. War department Sir October 30. 1792. The Officers of the militia called out for the defensive protection will be allowed the pay stipulated in the act of the 5^th of march last, since the passing of the same. It is the desire of the President of the United States, that only defensive measures should be used. If, for this object, it should be your Judgement, that the militia in the southwestern parts of Virginia, should be increased, you will please to order the same under the former regulations. The Accountant has not reported upon the militia rolls, you forwarded, but I have directed him to do it immediately, and arrangements shall be made for transmitting the amount. I have the honor to be sir, with great respect, your very humble Serv^t. H Knox His Excellency The Governor of Virginia.